*The reponse to Raavan in Mumbai  has been  remarkably rabid. What would  you  say  are the reasons for it?

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I am not qualified to respond to reasons for a response ! In a free society everyone has the right to comment and pass opinion. If there have been, according to you, ‘rabid’ remarks on ‘Raavan’, then that is what the people who make these observations have felt. We must respect the freedom given to an individual to do so.

*  Many within the  industry have  gone as far as  to label it Mani Ratnam’s worst film ever.Does that  kind of extreme response anger you?

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No it does not anger me that many in the Industry label Mani Ratnam’s film as his worst ever. On the contrary it actually justifies how much he is loved and admired. The liberty to get angry comes from those whom you love. Mani Ratnam is an exceptional talent, a director of immense credibility and worth. Even his so called ‘worst’ is a million times better than many so called ‘bests’. When one sets such high standards of credibility, you garner high expectation also. And when the audience feels that that standard has been even minutely compromised, it expresses disappointment. The anger is more a comment on their own disappointment, rather than one directed towards merit. People may not have patronised Guru Dutt’s ‘Kaagaz ke Phool’ or Raj Kapoor’s ‘Mera Naam Joker’, but they never stopped loving them, or else their very nexts ‘Chaudhavin ka Chand’ and ‘Bobby’, would not have seen such phenomenal successes. Aamir Khan and ShahRukh may have disappointed you in ‘Mela’ and ‘Paheli’, but that never stopped you from loving them to box office excellence in ‘3 iDiots’ and ‘Kabhi Alvida na Kehana’. No, it is not anger that is being expressed, it is indeed love !

 

• You saw the  film a day before the rest of the world. What were  your responses? Did you anticipate  the adverse comments that emerged from Mumbai?
  

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Yes I saw the film at the premier for the first time and I shared my thoughts on it with Mani after. I told him that it was marvellous how a thin story line had been given such a voluble presence. The film is an astonishing mix of mythology and politics put out in ethereal poetry. It is an intelligent film and possesses huge intellectual value, assets, that the ticket paying audience and the box office pundits are not necessarily impressed with. Hence the adverse reactions. Fair enough. But Mani Ratnam is the maker. It is his vision and thinking and artistic creativity. We must respect that. We may not like someone’s creativity, but we do not have the right to tell him not to create, as has been most harshly expressed by some.
I would want to put out here impressions of two individuals from my blog, who have reviewed the film, to exhibit the kind of intensity and vision they have. It is a stunning reminder of how discerning a viewer can be. Unfortunately they are long expansive pieces and shall take up far too much space, so I shall send them to you separately.
As for anticipating adverse comment from Mumbai is concerned, this is what I feel. When you are in the public arena, when you are in celebrity status, when you are deemed to be high profile, you will always be vulnerable to adverse comment and accusation. It comes with the territory. You are a member of the select few. You will be attacked and attacked mercilessly at times. You will also be the idol of several, loved and admired equally. You cannot have it good all the time. You must learn to live with it or stop being a member of the celebrity club. If there is a shortcoming in your work, your profile, your action, it is customary that your ostracization will take place. Take it on the chin and smile. If you are right, get up and prove it. If you are wrong, acknowledge and accept it.

• Abhishek and Aishwarya’s performances too have come in for furious flak. Your comments on  their individual performances?
  

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In the performances and their evaluation there is diverse opinion. Some have hated it, some have applauded it. Two critics from two different prestigious print mediums have on the same day tabulated two exactly opposite reactions ! One says ‘Abhishek has hammed his way through the film’ and the other expresses that ‘this is Abhishek’s best performance to date’. One castigates Aishwarya’s ‘silent and stone presence’ in film, the other gushes at the most endearing quality of the film being her ‘stunning performance, never seen before’. Who do you believe ??
The critics opinion is a singular opinion. Their medium for its expression is in multiples – the medium apart from its reach, also bearing strength of influence. Critics review has the power of dictating opinion. Care then has to be taken on how the subject needs to be reviewed. You may hate a product, but I think you cannot, because of the power of the medium you represent, tell people not to buy it. That is unfair and not ethical. The burgeoning of several competitive and allied mediums within the last few years has somewhat diminished the exclusive majority enjoyed by the print media. People have greater choices now and are free to take which ever they prefer to.
But to get back to performances, it is important to understand that, Abhishek and Aishwarya will perform according to what the director demands. He is the master of the ship. It is only after he has approved and passed what he wants from them, will it be allowed to go out into the public. Abhishek’s and Aishwarya’s performance as you see it in the film, is what was demanded by Mani Ratnam. We may not, I say again, like it, but who are we to say it was wrong. Critics have an onerous and difficult task. They have to be producer, director, actor, screenplay writer, dialogue writer, musician, play back singer, stunt coordinator all in one, and some more – they need to have the ability to assimilate all of this in an opinion and put it down against time lines within 500-600 words. Its a tough ask. They would all of them have to be very comprehensively qualified  and educated to do this job. Commenting on their credibility would unnecessarily stir up sensationalized ‘breaking news’ bulletins for a hungry and starved idiot box ogre. So I shall refrain. But for me personally, I liked both their performances. They have both grown from when I last saw them in ‘Guru’ together. I also liked each member of the supportive cast ; they were all very good. Also remember each individual has his or her own personal standard of judging ability. They may not always be similar to general choice but, that needs to be respected also.
On an aside, if I may state, I have enjoyed and commented on a few performances of my colleagues in some of the films I have seen of late. Whenever something has impressed me I have never failed to acknowledge it.  For example -
** Saif, Akshay Khanna, Aamir and Farhan in ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ – sent them flowers and spoke to them too congratulating them.
** Irfan Khan in ‘Namesake’ - that telephone scene from Hospital to Tabu before he dies, brilliant, met him recently for the first time and told him so.
** Tabu also in ‘Namesake’ - the sequence when she comes to know her husband just passed away and she alone in home away from country moving from room to room helpless – incredible.
** Vidya in ‘Parineeta’, just could not take my eyes off her in the film, a Waheeda Rehman of KaagazKP, Pyaasa, Sahib Biwi.., vulnerable and so attractive with her throaty laugh ..
** ShahRukh in KANK and in MNIK – KANK the scene in hospital when he comes out of accident still groggy and MNIK the slightly squint and studied look throughout the film, brilliant. Told him.
** Kareena , not in any specific film, she is competent always, but in an advertisement, cannot remember the product, but it ends with her words “….on other things !”. The expression, priceless.
** Abhishek in portions of ‘Dostana’, ‘Sarkaar’ ‘Guru’ and ‘Paa’- Guru the last scene, and Paa in hospital, when he realises that Auro is his son, the close up, subtle staid and so effective.
** Shahid a few moments in ‘Kameenay’ astonishing close ups, silent. Met him on a flight from Goa and told him so.
** Prateek in ‘Jaane tu ya Jaane Na’, just the complete absence of the fact that a camera is recording his moment, the most difficult craft in cinema acting, from someone in his first outing, superb.
** Hrithik in ‘Jodha Akbar’ and the song Maula when he gets up and starts dancing with other sufi dancers, brilliant , a directorial moment for Ashutosh, felt like standing up in the theatre and clapping.
** Sharman Joshi in ‘3Idiots’ the scene when he goes for his interview with the board, and all his recent Mobile Adds., that he does, so spontaneous and such subtlety of expression, exemplary.
** Aishwarya in ‘Raavan’ the scene before climax in train with Dev her husband when he suspects her, the expressions spoke 10 pages of dialogue !
** Mani  - the brilliance in all his films, but one sequence in ‘Raavan’ when Beera starts to realize his attraction to Raagini – magic, magic, great cinema.

• Do you  think the subversion  of the Ramayan specially towards   the end was justified ?
  

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Firstly we need to understand that the film is not Ramayan. It is Mani’s concept of a story with elements of the epic in his own interpretation of it. When I shall send you the two reviews I have promised, you will get a more adequate response. This is the director’s take on a story. We cannot comment whether it is justifiable or not. It is best left to his sensibilities as a creative artist. Comment yes, justify perhaps not.

• I  remember  your  vocal and emphatic  support of Mani Ratnam’s Guru. Do you feel as strongly about  Ravan?
  

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Yes , but in different ways. ‘Guru’ was straight story telling and his brilliance in its presentation was very clear to observe. ‘Raavan’ is asking me to study and think and analyse and probe. Its taken a while to comprehend, so it is not immediate. It is driving me to intellectualize, something that most viewers are not prepared for when they go to see a film. Mani’s technique and approach may already be the subject of discussion and inspiration or imitation even as I write. But then that is a personal and individual view. It cannot be generalised.

*Apparently you’ve been reminding Mani Ratnam and  Abhishek that they’ve worked  thrice  together and that it’s about time you  got a chance  to  work with him. Is a film with Mani around the corner?

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I wish it was true, but there is no such offering. Could you put in a word for me ??

*  Does the savage  criticism  Abhishek’s solo films Delhi  6 and now Raavan strike you  as being perhaps a  little unjust to  him?

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No not at all. As I said people pay to go and see a film if they do not like something they have the liberty to criticize it. I cannot understand why you particularly mention ‘solo’. None of my successful films were solo. Deewar, Trishul, Muqaddar ka Sikandar, Sholay, etc.,. Abhishek too has had his share of solo successes and non successes. Some work some do not. Its film making. Happens the world over. One accepts the public verdict learns from it and tries again.

*His recent hit  was Paa, where you also starred. Any more projects featuring you and Abhishek?

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I hope there will be. There are a few talks in progress, when they are ready we can talk about it.

*You have again started signing  films after a  long gap. Please describe the projects you’ve taken on.

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Yes I had not signed a film for a while. There had been an accumulation of 5 films one after the other, due to the multiplex strike. All of them have released, barring one.
I have signed up with Raj Kumar Santoshi, and there are projects on the verge of finalization with Pritish Nandy Communication, Prakash Jha, Puri Jagannath, Abbas Mastaan and of course R Balki.

• You  were in Paris  recently  for a recital  of your father’s poetry. How was that experience.
  

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Yes I was in Paris to do a recital at the prestigious Theatre des Champs-Elysee, of my Father’s poems. It was a first for me and a first for the Theatre too. Almost 70% French audience, subtitled facilities inside the theatre and a most remarkable evening for me. A venue that has played host to greats in philharmonic orchestra, world renowned ballet and opera to be hosting Hindi poetry recitation was unique. Some of my fans came in from New York and London, Germany and Spain to witness this occasion. I thought it was most endearing on their part. For me it was a privilege to be able to introduce my Father’s works to an foreign and alien audience. Just such a honour. My Father would never have dreamt that this would happen someday, but it did happen and it filled me with  a lot of pride.

• In London  you  had dinner with Aamir Khan. Any projects together coming  up?
  

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Why would you assume that when two actors meet and have dinner together that they would be doing a project together !! Aamir was in the same Hotel as me, he called we met and went out for a meal. Just another social evening, nothing more. Though working with Aamir would be a joy, particularly if he were to direct the film.

*Lately  Mr Amar  Singh has had a  lot of  comments to make on your family. Your comments?

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Amar Singh ji is family and any matter on him becomes personal. I would not comment on matters personal.

*   I can’t help asking…you’re tweeting and blogging. Do these means   of communication make the  press redundant  for you?

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How could you possibly ask this question at the end of this most exhaustive response of mine to the press !! No the media will never be redundant. Yes I Blog and Tweet and Vog and soon shall also video blog, but the press shall always have its presence and importance. For me these  mediums are a wonderful opportunity to connect with my fans and well wishers independently and instantly. The internet is becoming a vast medium for the future. Most of the requests for interviews have also reduced because the media picks up all the daily news from our blogs and tweets. Look at the vast amount of information that these mediums provide on individuals you would perhaps have never had the opportunity to interact with. It should be allowed to grow and prosper, its use and misuse notwithstanding.

• Tweeting…what have been  the  most  memorable experiences  in that sphere of activity?
  

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To have had the great opportunity of a chat with Lata ji !!